Watercraft with electric drive system

ABSTRACT

A watercraft includes a hull having a lengthwise-extending keel and a transom extending perpendicularly to the keel about an aft end of the hull. An electrically-powered propulsion pod is engaged with the hull on opposite sides of the keel. A single control unit is in communication with the propulsion pods, wherein the single control unit is arranged to interact with the propulsion pods to control steering, direction, and velocity of the hull. An associated method of forming a watercraft is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 63/028,746 to Potts, filed May 22, 2020, which isentirely incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to watercraft and, moreparticularly to a watercraft implementing an electric drive system andan associated method of forming a watercraft.

Description of Related Art

Some bodies of water or navigable waterways limit or disallow the use ofinternal combustion engine (ICE) powered watercraft. As such,manually-powered watercraft (e.g., kayaks, canoes) or electric-poweredwatercraft (e.g., boats with trolling motors or boats having the ICEmotor replaced with an electric motor).

However, such non-ICE watercraft generally cannot meet the performanceof ICE watercraft in terms of, for example, hull planning, hull speed,and maneuverability. Moreover, in the case of watercraft having the ICEmotor replaced with an electric motor, the complexity of the systems andmoving parts of such a watercraft can create additional considerations,including for example, efficiency, weight, and cooling of the drivelinecomponents.

Thus, there exist a need for a watercraft having an electric drivesystem that addresses these and other needs, while implementingtechnology to create a relatively simple and user-friendly watercraftconfiguration.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosurewhich, in one aspect, provides a watercraft including a hull having alengthwise-extending keel and a transom extending perpendicularly to thekeel about an aft end of the hull. An electrically-powered propulsionpod is engaged with the hull on opposite sides of the keel. A singlecontrol unit is in communication with the propulsion pods, wherein thesingle control unit is arranged to interact with the propulsion pods tocontrol steering, direction, and velocity of the hull.

The present disclosure thus includes, without limitation, the followingexample embodiments:

Example Embodiment 1: A watercraft, comprising a hull having alengthwise-extending keel and a transom extending perpendicularly to thekeel about an aft end of the hull; two electrically-powered propulsionpods engaged with the hull and arranged on opposite sides of the keel;and a single control unit in communication with the propulsion pods, thesingle control unit being arranged to interact with the propulsion podsto control steering, direction, and velocity of the hull.

Example Embodiment 2: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion podincludes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein thepropulsion pods are fixedly engaged with the hull with the propulsionunits arranged in a fixed orientation such that the thrust is producedsubstantially parallel to the keel.

Example Embodiment 3: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein the control unit isarranged to direct the propulsion units to produce a different amount ofthrust or a different direction of thrust between the propulsion unitsso as to control steering of the hull.

Example Embodiment 4: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion podincludes an electric motor engaged with a propulsion unit, the electricmotor and the propulsion unit being arranged to cooperate to producethrust, and wherein the electric motor is mounted in the propulsion podexternally to the hull.

Example Embodiment 5: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein the electric motor isarranged in a direct drive relation with the propulsion unit, andwherein the control unit is arranged to reverse polarity to the electricmotor to change a thrust direction of the propulsion unit to control thedirection of the hull.

Example Embodiment 6: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion podincludes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein thepropulsion pods are engaged with the hull such that the propulsion unitsare forward of the transom.

Example Embodiment 7: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion podincludes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein thepropulsion pods are engaged with the hull adjacent to the transom suchthat the propulsion units extend aft of the transom.

Example Embodiment 8: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein the propulsion pods arefixedly engaged with the hull and are spaced apart toward opposing sidesof the hull away from the keel.

Example Embodiment 9: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion podincludes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein thepropulsion pods fixedly engaged with the hull are arranged with respectto the hull such that the propulsion units extend downwardly from thehull equal to or less than the keel.

Example Embodiment 10: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, comprising a power source withinthe hull and arranged in communication with the propulsion pods and thecontrol unit, the power source being movable fore and aft within thehull, substantially parallel to the keel.

Example Embodiment 11: The watercraft of any preceding exampleembodiment, or combinations thereof, wherein the control unit comprisesa single joystick input device arranged to control both propulsion pods,or a pair of joystick input devices with each of the pair of joystickinput devices being arranged to control a corresponding one of thepropulsion pods.

Example Embodiment 12: A method of forming a watercraft, the watercraftincluding a hull having a lengthwise-extending keel and a transomextending perpendicularly to the keel about an aft end of the hull, themethod comprising engaging two electrically-powered propulsion pods withthe hull such that the propulsion pods are arranged on opposite sides ofthe keel; and engaging a single control unit in communication with thepropulsion pods, such that the single control unit is arranged tointeract with the propulsion pods to control steering, direction, andvelocity of the hull.

Example Embodiment 13: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion pod includes apropulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein engaging thepropulsion pods with the hull comprises fixedly engaging the propulsionpods with the hull, with the propulsion units arranged in a fixedorientation, such that the thrust is produced substantially parallel tothe keel.

Example Embodiment 14: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein engaging the single control unitcomprises engaging the single control unit in communication with thepropulsion pods such that the control unit is arranged to direct thepropulsion units to produce a different amount of thrust or a differentdirection of thrust between the propulsion units so as to controlsteering of the hull.

Example Embodiment 15: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion pod includes anelectric motor engaged with a propulsion unit, the electric motor andthe propulsion unit being arranged to cooperate to produce thrust, andwherein engaging the propulsion pods with the hull comprises mountingthe electric motor in the propulsion pod externally to the hull.

Example Embodiment 16: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein the electric motor is arranged in adirect drive relation with the propulsion unit, and wherein engaging thesingle control unit comprises engaging the single control unit incommunication with the propulsion pods such that the control unit isarranged to reverse polarity to the electric motor to change a thrustdirection of the propulsion unit to control the direction of the hull.

Example Embodiment 17: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion pod includes apropulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein engaging thepropulsion pods with the hull comprises engaging the propulsion podswith the hull such that the propulsion units are forward of the transom.

Example Embodiment 18: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion pod includes apropulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein engaging thepropulsion pods with the hull comprises engaging the propulsion podswith the hull adjacent to the transom such that the propulsion unitsextend aft of the transom.

Example Embodiment 19: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein engaging the propulsion pods with thehull comprises fixedly engaging the propulsion pods with the hull suchthat the propulsion pods are spaced apart toward opposing sides of thehull away from the keel.

Example Embodiment 20: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein each propulsion pod includes apropulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein engaging thepropulsion pods with the hull comprises fixedly engaging the propulsionpods with the hull such that the propulsion units are arranged withrespect to the hull to extend downwardly from the hull equal to or lessthan the keel.

Example Embodiment 21: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, comprising arranging a power source within thehull in communication with the propulsion pods and the control unit, thepower source being movable fore and aft within the hull, substantiallyparallel to the keel.

Example Embodiment 22: The method of any preceding example embodiment,or combinations thereof, wherein engaging the single control unitcomprises engaging the single control unit, comprising a single joystickinput device arranged to control both propulsion pods, or a pair ofjoystick input devices with each of the pair of joystick input devicesbeing arranged to control a corresponding one of the propulsion pods, incommunication with the propulsion pods.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription together with the accompanying drawings, which are brieflydescribed below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two,three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure,regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combinedor otherwise recited in a specific embodiment description herein. Thisdisclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separablefeatures or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects andembodiments, should be viewed as intended, namely to be combinable,unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

It will be appreciated that the summary herein is provided merely forpurposes of summarizing some example aspects so as to provide a basicunderstanding of the disclosure. As such, it will be appreciated thatthe above described example aspects are merely examples and should notbe construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way.It will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure encompasses manypotential aspects, some of which will be further described below, inaddition to those herein summarized. Further, other aspects andadvantages of such aspects disclosed herein will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the described aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarilydrawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a watercraft includingan electric drive system, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a rear view of a watercraft includingan electric drive system, according to the aspect of the presentdisclosure illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically illustrate plan views of a watercraftincluding an electric drive system, according to different aspects ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allaspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, the disclosure may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided sothat this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

Particular aspects of the present disclosure, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 1-4 are generally directed to a watercraft 100 implementing adrive system. Such a watercraft 100 comprises a hull 200 having alengthwise-extending keel 300 and a transom 400 extendingperpendicularly to the keel 300 about an aft end 220 of the hull 200.The hull 200 also includes a fore end or bow 240 opposing the aft end220. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, thewatercraft 100 includes a pair of electrically-powered propulsion pods500, wherein the propulsions pods 500 are engaged with the hull 200 onopposite sides of the keel 300. Further, aspects of the presentdisclosure implement a single control unit 600 (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and4) in communication with the propulsion pods 500, wherein the singlecontrol unit 600 is arranged to interact with the propulsion pods 500 tocontrol, for example, steering, direction, and velocity of the hull 200.

Each propulsion pod 500 includes a propulsion unit 520 arranged toproduce thrust to propel the hull 200 through the water. The propulsionunit 520 is, for example, a propeller, a waterjet unit, or the like.Each propulsion pod 500 includes an electric motor 540 engaged with thepropulsion unit 520, wherein the electric motor 540 and the propulsionunit 520 are arranged to cooperate to produce the thrust. According tosome aspects of the present disclosure, the electric motor 540 ismounted in the propulsion pod 500, externally to the hull 200. That is,for example, the electric motor 540 is arranged in a direct driverelation with the propulsion unit 520, and can thus be mounted in thefoot 560 of the propulsion pod 500. Mounting the electric motor 540 inthe foot 560 of the propulsion pod 500 may, for example, promotestability of the hull 200 by moving the weight of the electric motors540 externally to the hull 200 and lowering the center of gravity. Inaddition, cooling provisions for the electric motor 540 can beintegrated into the foot 560, and thus such cooling provisions are alsonot required to be mounted within the hull 200.

In some aspects, the propulsion pods 500 are fixedly engaged with thehull 200 such that the propulsion units 520 are arranged in a fixedorientation (e.g., the propulsion pods 500 and/or the propulsion units520 are not rotatable or steerable with respect to the hull 200). In onefixed orientation, for example, the propulsion pods 500/propulsion units520 are arranged and fixedly mounted to the hull 200 such that thethrust is produced substantially parallel to the keel 300.

In further aspects, the hull 200 is configured, for example, as acathedral hull or a tri-hull, or defines longitudinally-extendingtunnels or pockets 250 on either side of the keel 300. In manyinstances, the keel 300 defines the deepest portion of the hull 200, andthus determines the draft of the hull 200. In such aspects, thepropulsion pods 500 are fixedly engaged with and are arranged withrespect to the hull 200 within the tunnels/pockets 250, or are disposedbetween the sponsons and the keel 300 of the hull 200 such that thepropulsion units 520 extend downwardly from the hull 200 equal to orless than the keel 300. That is, the propulsion pods 500 are mounted tothe hull between the sponsons and the keel 300, or within thetunnels/pockets, such that the propulsions units 520 (e.g., propellers)are raised above the bottom of the keel 300. This arrangement serves toprotect the propulsion units (e.g., propellers) from damage in the eventof, for example, beaching of the hull 200 or the hull 200 running over afloating object.

In other aspects, the propulsion pods 500 are engaged with the hull 200such that the propulsion units 520 are disposed forward of the transom400. Arranging the propulsion units 520 forward of the transom 400serves, for example, a safety purpose by arranging the propulsion units520 (e.g., propellers) under the hull 200 so as to lower the risk ofcontact with persons approaching the transom 400. In other aspects, thepropulsion pods 500 are engaged with the hull 200 adjacent to thetransom 400 such that the propulsion units 520 extend aft of the transom400. In such instances, the aft-most disposition of the propulsion pods500 conserves space within the hull 200 and the propulsion units 520disposed aft of the transom 400 can, for example, facilitate a flatrunning attitude of the hull 200. In this manner, aspects of thewatercraft 100 disclosed herein do not require and/or implement asupplemental attitude adjustment provision such as, for example, trimtabs or propulsion pods having tilt/trim adjustments, though one skilledin the art will appreciate that such a supplemental attitude adjustmentprovision can be implemented, if necessary or desired.

In some aspects, a power source 700 is disposed within the hull 200(e.g., so as to be balanced on either side of the keel 300) and isarranged in electrical communication with the propulsion pods 500 andwith the single control unit 600 generally disposed at the helm 800 ofthe watercraft 100. One skilled in the art will appreciate, however,that the control unit 600 may be mounted elsewhere in the hull 200 ormay comprise a wired or wireless handheld unit. In particular instances,the control unit 600 is arranged primarily to control the flow ofelectrical power from the power source 700 (e.g., a battery) to theelectric motor 540 mounted in the propulsion pods 500 in order for thepropulsion units 520 to provide the thrust to propel the hull 200.Accordingly, the control unit 600 is also arranged to direct thepropulsion pods 500 to produce different amounts of thrust (e.g., bydiffering the amount of electrical power, such as amperage, directed toeach electric motor 540) to affect the velocity of the hull 200 (i.e.,increased amperage to the electric motors 540 causes increased thrustfrom the propulsion units 520 which, in turn, causes an increasedvelocity of the hull 200). In other instances, the power source 700 ismovable fore and aft within the hull 200, with the movement beingsubstantially parallel to the keel 300, to determine an appropriateplacement of the power source 700 for providing a flat stationaryattitude and/or a flat running attitude of the hull 200.

In particular aspects, the control unit 600 is configured to reverse thepolarity of the electrical power from the power source 700 to theelectric motor 540 to change the thrust direction of the propulsion unit520. In this manner, the control unit 600 is arranged to control thedirection of propulsion of the hull 200. That is, a first polarity ofthe electrical power causes the propulsion units 520 to produce thethrust for directing the hull 200 in a first direction (e.g., a forwarddirection), while switching to a second polarity (opposite to the firstpolarity) of the electrical power causes the propulsion units 520 toproduce the thrust for directing the hull 200 in a second direction(e.g., a reverse direction) opposite to the first direction.

With the control unit 600 arranged to control the electric motors540/propulsion units 540 in this manner, the control unit 600 is alsoarranged to be capable of directing the propulsion units 540 to producea different amounts of thrust (e.g., by differing the amount ofelectrical power, such as amperage, directed to each electric motor 540)or to produce different directions of thrust between the propulsionunits 540. In this manner, the control unit 600 and the propulsion pods500 are used to control steering of the hull 200. In some aspects, inorder to facilitate or enhance steering responsiveness, the propulsionpods 500 fixedly engaged with the hull 200 are spaced apart towardopposing sides (e.g., port and starboard sides) of the hull 200, awayfrom the keel 300. A relatively wider spacing allows the propulsion pods500, for example, to produce a greater steering torque about the keel300. In some instances, the watercraft 100 includes a bow thruster 900mounted to the hull 200 toward the fore end or bow 240, wherein the bowthruster 900 is arranged in communication with the power source 700 toproduce lateral thrust (e.g., perpendicular to the keel 300).Accordingly, the bow thruster 900 also in communication with the controlunit 600 can be implemented in conjunction with the propulsion pods 500to control steering of the hull 200. In this manner, aspects of thewatercraft 100 disclosed herein do not require and/or implement asupplemental steering provision such as, for example, a rudder orrotatable propulsion pod, though one skilled in the art will appreciatethat such a supplemental steering provision can be implemented, ifnecessary or desired.

In particular aspects of the disclosure, the control unit 600 comprisesa single joystick input device (see, e.g., FIG. 3) arranged to controlboth propulsion pods 500 (and the optional bow thruster 900) by way ofan appropriately-configured computer device 1000 (see, e.g., FIG. 4)having a processor and a memory storing executable instructionsexecutable by the processor for directing such control. In otheraspects, the control unit 600 includes a pair of joystick input devices(see, e.g., FIG. 4), with each of the pair of joystick input devicesbeing arranged to control a corresponding one of the propulsion pods500, by way of the computer device 1000. In such aspects, the computerdevice 1000 is in communication with the optional bow thruster 900 andconfigured to actuate the bow thruster 900, as needed, for example inconjunction with steering inputs from the pair of joysticks. In thismanner, aspects of the watercraft 100 disclosed herein do not requireand/or implement a supplemental steering input provision such as, forexample, a steering wheel, though one skilled in the art will appreciatethat such a supplemental steering input provision can be implemented, ifnecessary or desired.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thesedisclosed embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention arenot to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and thatmodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the invention. Moreover, although the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments inthe context of certain example combinations of elements and/orfunctions, it should be appreciated that different combinations ofelements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. In this regard, forexample, different combinations of elements and/or functions than thoseexplicitly described above are also contemplated within the scope of thedisclosure. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are usedin a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various steps or calculations, these steps orcalculations should not be limited by these terms. These terms are onlyused to distinguish one operation or calculation from another. Forexample, a first calculation may be termed a second calculation, and,similarly, a second step may be termed a first step, without departingfrom the scope of this disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” andthe “/” symbol includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”,“comprising”, “includes”, and/or “including”, when used herein, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. Therefore, the terminology usedherein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only andis not intended to be limiting.

That which is claimed:
 1. A watercraft, comprising: a hull having alengthwise-extending keel and a transom extending perpendicularly to thekeel about an aft end of the hull; two electrically-powered propulsionpods engaged with the hull and arranged on opposite sides of the keel;and a single control unit in communication with the propulsion pods, thesingle control unit being arranged to interact with the propulsion podsto control steering, direction, and velocity of the hull.
 2. Thewatercraft of claim 1, wherein each propulsion pod includes a propulsionunit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein the propulsion pods arefixedly engaged with the hull with the propulsion units arranged in afixed orientation such that the thrust is produced substantiallyparallel to the keel.
 3. The watercraft of claim 2, wherein the controlunit is arranged to direct the propulsion units to produce a differentamount of thrust or a different direction of thrust between thepropulsion units so as to control steering of the hull.
 4. Thewatercraft of claim 1, wherein each propulsion pod includes an electricmotor engaged with a propulsion unit, the electric motor and thepropulsion unit being arranged to cooperate to produce thrust, andwherein the electric motor is mounted in the propulsion pod externallyto the hull.
 5. The watercraft of claim 4, wherein the electric motor isarranged in a direct drive relation with the propulsion unit, andwherein the control unit is arranged to reverse polarity to the electricmotor to change a thrust direction of the propulsion unit to control thedirection of the hull.
 6. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein eachpropulsion pod includes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust,and wherein the propulsion pods are engaged with the hull such that thepropulsion units are forward of the transom.
 7. The watercraft of claim1, wherein each propulsion pod includes a propulsion unit arranged toproduce thrust, and wherein the propulsion pods are engaged with thehull adjacent to the transom such that the propulsion units extend aftof the transom.
 8. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the propulsionpods are fixedly engaged with the hull and are spaced apart towardopposing sides of the hull away from the keel.
 9. The watercraft ofclaim 1, wherein each propulsion pod includes a propulsion unit arrangedto produce thrust, and wherein the propulsion pods fixedly engaged withthe hull are arranged with respect to the hull such that the propulsionunits extend downwardly from the hull equal to or less than the keel.10. The watercraft of claim 1, comprising a power source within the hulland arranged in communication with the propulsion pods and the controlunit, the power source being movable fore and aft within the hull,substantially parallel to the keel.
 11. The watercraft of claim 1,wherein the control unit comprises a single joystick input devicearranged to control both propulsion pods, or a pair of joystick inputdevices with each of the pair of joystick input devices being arrangedto control a corresponding one of the propulsion pods.
 12. A method offorming a watercraft, the watercraft including a hull having alengthwise-extending keel and a transom extending perpendicularly to thekeel about an aft end of the hull, the method comprising: engaging twoelectrically-powered propulsion pods with the hull such that thepropulsion pods are arranged on opposite sides of the keel; and engaginga single control unit in communication with the propulsion pods, suchthat the single control unit is arranged to interact with the propulsionpods to control steering, direction, and velocity of the hull.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein each propulsion pod includes a propulsionunit arranged to produce thrust, and wherein engaging the propulsionpods with the hull comprises fixedly engaging the propulsion pods withthe hull, with the propulsion units arranged in a fixed orientation,such that the thrust is produced substantially parallel to the keel. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein engaging the single control unitcomprises engaging the single control unit in communication with thepropulsion pods such that the control unit is arranged to direct thepropulsion units to produce a different amount of thrust or a differentdirection of thrust between the propulsion units so as to controlsteering of the hull.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein eachpropulsion pod includes an electric motor engaged with a propulsionunit, the electric motor and the propulsion unit being arranged tocooperate to produce thrust, and wherein engaging the propulsion podswith the hull comprises mounting the electric motor in the propulsionpod externally to the hull.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theelectric motor is arranged in a direct drive relation with thepropulsion unit, and wherein engaging the single control unit comprisesengaging the single control unit in communication with the propulsionpods such that the control unit is arranged to reverse polarity to theelectric motor to change a thrust direction of the propulsion unit tocontrol the direction of the hull.
 17. The method of claim 12, whereineach propulsion pod includes a propulsion unit arranged to producethrust, and wherein engaging the propulsion pods with the hull comprisesengaging the propulsion pods with the hull such that the propulsionunits are forward of the transom.
 18. The method of claim 12, whereineach propulsion pod includes a propulsion unit arranged to producethrust, and wherein engaging the propulsion pods with the hull comprisesengaging the propulsion pods with the hull adjacent to the transom suchthat the propulsion units extend aft of the transom.
 19. The method ofclaim 12, wherein engaging the propulsion pods with the hull comprisesfixedly engaging the propulsion pods with the hull such that thepropulsion pods are spaced apart toward opposing sides of the hull awayfrom the keel.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein each propulsion podincludes a propulsion unit arranged to produce thrust, and whereinengaging the propulsion pods with the hull comprises fixedly engagingthe propulsion pods with the hull such that the propulsion units arearranged with respect to the hull to extend downwardly from the hullequal to or less than the keel.
 21. The method of claim 12, comprisingarranging a power source within the hull in communication with thepropulsion pods and the control unit, the power source being movablefore and aft within the hull, substantially parallel to the keel. 22.The method of claim 12, wherein engaging the single control unitcomprises engaging the single control unit, comprising a single joystickinput device arranged to control both propulsion pods, or a pair ofjoystick input devices with each of the pair of joystick input devicesbeing arranged to control a corresponding one of the propulsion pods, incommunication with the propulsion pods.